CuAP. Y.} STORY OF THE TOOTH. 215 



be imperilled. Of this opinion were the prelates, the inqui- 

 sitors, the vicar-general of the Dominicans, Fra Manuel de 

 Serra of the same order, the prior of Goa, the Father Custodian 

 of the Franciscans, Padre Antonio de Quadros of the Company 

 of Jesus, the Provincial of India, and others of the Society of the 

 Jesuits. 



"This resolution having been come to and committed to 

 writing, to which all attached their signatures (and a copy of 

 which is now in our possession in the Eecord Office), the Viceroy 

 called on the treasurer to produce the tooth. He handed it to 

 the Archbishop, who, in their presence, placed it in a mortar, 

 and with his own hand reducing it to powder, cast the pieces into 

 a brazier, which stood ready for the purpose ; after which, the 

 ashes and the charcoal together were cast into the river, in sight 

 of all, they crowding to the verandahs and windows which looked 

 upon the water. 



" Many protested against this measure of the Viceroy, since 

 there was nothing to prevent the Buddhists from making other 

 idols ; and out of a piece of bone they could shape another tooth 

 in resemblance of the one they had lost, and extend to it the same 

 worship: whilst the gold that had been rejected would have re- 

 paired the pressing necessities of the state. In Portugal itself 

 much astonishment was expressed that these proceedings should 

 have been assented to. 



"To commemorate the event, and to illustrate the spirit which 

 had dictated an act approved by the Fathers of the Company, 

 and signalised by zeal for Christianity and the glory of Grod, a 

 device was designed as follows : — On an escutcheon was a 

 representation of the Viceroy and the Archbishop surrounded 

 by the prelates, monks, and divines who had been present 

 on the occasion, and in the midst was the burning brazier, 

 together with Buddhists offering purses of money. Above the 

 letter c, being the initial of Don Constantine, was repeated five 

 times thus — 



c c c c c 



and below it the five words — 



CoTistantinus coeli cupidine 

 crumenas cvemavit, 



the interpretation being that ' Constantine devoted to heaven, 

 rejected the treasures of earth.'" 



p 4 



